'Just Like Curry, Just Like Durant': How 6'1" Lou Williams Gets Buckets

But on this stage, matched up against the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs, his isolation mastery, finishing prowess and killer instincts are leading to some of the biggest wins of his career. He's scoring inside and out, getting to the free-throw line, making every difficult mid-range shot and dropping 24.4 points per night off the benchwith an elite 60.9 true shooting percentage against the back-to-back champs.

"He's a great scorer, just like Curry, just like Durant," Clippers head coach Doc Rivers said after their 129-121 Game 5 win, during which Williams scored a team-high 33 points on 12-of-19 shooting. "In the games in L.A., they were trapping him a lot, so we took the picks away a lot tonight and iso-ed him with space."

In order to be a great scorer, you must first be able to read the defense. The Clippers' simple adjustment of removing the pick-and-roll to reduce the chance of a double-team has allowed Williams to go into his bag of tricks.

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"I thought that gave him room to work," Rivers said. "Thought the end of the second quarter we did it over and over again. That got his rhythm. And when Lou gets his rhythm, he's tough to guard. He's been tallying in the fourth. He believes he's a closer. He is a closer."

The rangy Warriors defenders can be difficult for smaller guards to break down. When they trap, it's nearly impossible. But microwave scorers such as Williams are well-equipped to do one-on-one damage, and there's no stopping him once he's hot.

At the end of a close game, pick-and-rolls re-emerge as the primary offensive set for every team. Once the Clippers' spark plug had gotten himself going, those ball-screen actions that were so unsuccessful during Games 3 and 4 in Los Angeles started to create points every trip down the floor.

McCollum and the Blazers Snapped Postseason Losing Streak for "Jennifer"

Stars Invest in Plant-Based Food as Vegetarianism Sweeps NBA

The NBA Got Some Wild Techs This Season

Jarrett Allen Is One of the NBA’s Hottest Rim Protectors

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Bosh Is Getting His Jersey Raised to the Rafters in Miami

Steph Returns to Houston for 1st Time Since His Moon Landing Troll

Lou Williams Is Coming for a Repeat of Sixth Man of the Year

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LeBron Keeps Shredding NBA Record Books

Young's Hot Streak Is Heating Up the ROY Race with Luka

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Wade's #OneLastDance Dominated February

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Two Years Ago, the Kings Shipped Boogie to the Pelicans

ASG Will Be Competitive Again If the NBA Raises the Stakes

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"You just can't—you can't just say I'm going to stop Lou Williams," Kevin Durant said. "You just have to hope you're locked in enough to stop him or things go well."

McCollum and the Blazers Snapped Postseason Losing Streak for "Jennifer"

Stars Invest in Plant-Based Food as Vegetarianism Sweeps NBA

The NBA Got Some Wild Techs This Season

Jarrett Allen Is One of the NBA’s Hottest Rim Protectors

Wade's Jersey Swaps Created Epic Moments This Season

Westbrook Makes History While Honoring Nipsey Hussle

Devin Booker Makes History with Scoring Tear

29 Years Ago, Jordan Dropped Career-High 69 Points

Bosh Is Getting His Jersey Raised to the Rafters in Miami

Steph Returns to Houston for 1st Time Since His Moon Landing Troll

Lou Williams Is Coming for a Repeat of Sixth Man of the Year

Pat Beverley Has the Clippers Stealing the LA Shine

LeBron Keeps Shredding NBA Record Books

Young's Hot Streak Is Heating Up the ROY Race with Luka

LeBron and 2 Chainz Form a Superteam to Release a New Album

Wade's #OneLastDance Dominated February

Warriors Fans Go Wild After Unforgettable Moments with Steph

Eight Years Ago, the Nuggets Traded Melo to the Knicks

Two Years Ago, the Kings Shipped Boogie to the Pelicans

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Having seen the different pick-and-roll defenses the Warriors could throw at him, Williams patiently navigated his way to any spot on the floor, from which he could get buckets with head fakes and stop-and-gos to keep defenders off balance.

McCollum and the Blazers Snapped Postseason Losing Streak for "Jennifer"

Stars Invest in Plant-Based Food as Vegetarianism Sweeps NBA

The NBA Got Some Wild Techs This Season

Jarrett Allen Is One of the NBA’s Hottest Rim Protectors

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Devin Booker Makes History with Scoring Tear

29 Years Ago, Jordan Dropped Career-High 69 Points

Bosh Is Getting His Jersey Raised to the Rafters in Miami

Steph Returns to Houston for 1st Time Since His Moon Landing Troll

Lou Williams Is Coming for a Repeat of Sixth Man of the Year

Pat Beverley Has the Clippers Stealing the LA Shine

LeBron Keeps Shredding NBA Record Books

Young's Hot Streak Is Heating Up the ROY Race with Luka

LeBron and 2 Chainz Form a Superteam to Release a New Album

Wade's #OneLastDance Dominated February

Warriors Fans Go Wild After Unforgettable Moments with Steph

Eight Years Ago, the Nuggets Traded Melo to the Knicks

Two Years Ago, the Kings Shipped Boogie to the Pelicans

ASG Will Be Competitive Again If the NBA Raises the Stakes

Right Arrow Icon

Known more for his scoring than playmaking, Williams has also picked apart the Warriors with 7.8 assists per game, attacking quickly when the defense sags back and dropping off dimes to Montrezl Harrell when the help slides over.

McCollum and the Blazers Snapped Postseason Losing Streak for "Jennifer"

Stars Invest in Plant-Based Food as Vegetarianism Sweeps NBA

The NBA Got Some Wild Techs This Season

Jarrett Allen Is One of the NBA’s Hottest Rim Protectors

Wade's Jersey Swaps Created Epic Moments This Season

Westbrook Makes History While Honoring Nipsey Hussle

Devin Booker Makes History with Scoring Tear

29 Years Ago, Jordan Dropped Career-High 69 Points

Bosh Is Getting His Jersey Raised to the Rafters in Miami

Steph Returns to Houston for 1st Time Since His Moon Landing Troll

Lou Williams Is Coming for a Repeat of Sixth Man of the Year

Pat Beverley Has the Clippers Stealing the LA Shine

LeBron Keeps Shredding NBA Record Books

Young's Hot Streak Is Heating Up the ROY Race with Luka

LeBron and 2 Chainz Form a Superteam to Release a New Album

Wade's #OneLastDance Dominated February

Warriors Fans Go Wild After Unforgettable Moments with Steph

Eight Years Ago, the Nuggets Traded Melo to the Knicks

Two Years Ago, the Kings Shipped Boogie to the Pelicans

ASG Will Be Competitive Again If the NBA Raises the Stakes

Right Arrow Icon

"Just focus. Just focus," Williams said. "I'm blessed to have teammates that believe in me coming down the stretch, they make sure I have the ball in my hands. They have that confidence in me to go out there and make those plays.

"And when you have a locker room full of guys who are going to live and die with the decisions you make in the fourth quarter, it makes your job tremendously easy. So I go out there, top of the fourth, knowing that it is my time to go. My teammates know it's my time to go, and I go out there to do the best I can to help get us a win."

Williams is so crafty with his movement, changing pace, shifting speed and effortlessly dissecting whichever elite Warriors defender is thrown his way. He pulls different strings, gets you to bite and then finishes with a variety of artful leaners.

McCollum and the Blazers Snapped Postseason Losing Streak for "Jennifer"

Stars Invest in Plant-Based Food as Vegetarianism Sweeps NBA

The NBA Got Some Wild Techs This Season

Jarrett Allen Is One of the NBA’s Hottest Rim Protectors

Wade's Jersey Swaps Created Epic Moments This Season

Westbrook Makes History While Honoring Nipsey Hussle

Devin Booker Makes History with Scoring Tear

29 Years Ago, Jordan Dropped Career-High 69 Points

Bosh Is Getting His Jersey Raised to the Rafters in Miami

Steph Returns to Houston for 1st Time Since His Moon Landing Troll

Lou Williams Is Coming for a Repeat of Sixth Man of the Year

Pat Beverley Has the Clippers Stealing the LA Shine

LeBron Keeps Shredding NBA Record Books

Young's Hot Streak Is Heating Up the ROY Race with Luka

LeBron and 2 Chainz Form a Superteam to Release a New Album

Wade's #OneLastDance Dominated February

Warriors Fans Go Wild After Unforgettable Moments with Steph

Eight Years Ago, the Nuggets Traded Melo to the Knicks

Two Years Ago, the Kings Shipped Boogie to the Pelicans

ASG Will Be Competitive Again If the NBA Raises the Stakes

Right Arrow Icon

"When they're driving, when they feel contact, [James Harden and Williams] use it against the defender," Rivers said. "Lou does it going away, and that's what's so difficult for the officials. It's rare that you have a guy going away from the contact and is able to then draw the contact."

McCollum and the Blazers Snapped Postseason Losing Streak for "Jennifer"

Stars Invest in Plant-Based Food as Vegetarianism Sweeps NBA

The NBA Got Some Wild Techs This Season

Jarrett Allen Is One of the NBA’s Hottest Rim Protectors

Wade's Jersey Swaps Created Epic Moments This Season

Westbrook Makes History While Honoring Nipsey Hussle

Devin Booker Makes History with Scoring Tear

29 Years Ago, Jordan Dropped Career-High 69 Points

Bosh Is Getting His Jersey Raised to the Rafters in Miami

Steph Returns to Houston for 1st Time Since His Moon Landing Troll

Lou Williams Is Coming for a Repeat of Sixth Man of the Year

Pat Beverley Has the Clippers Stealing the LA Shine

LeBron Keeps Shredding NBA Record Books

Young's Hot Streak Is Heating Up the ROY Race with Luka

LeBron and 2 Chainz Form a Superteam to Release a New Album

Wade's #OneLastDance Dominated February

Warriors Fans Go Wild After Unforgettable Moments with Steph

Eight Years Ago, the Nuggets Traded Melo to the Knicks

Two Years Ago, the Kings Shipped Boogie to the Pelicans

ASG Will Be Competitive Again If the NBA Raises the Stakes

Right Arrow Icon

Williams' acrobatics are an understated aspect of his scoring arsenal.

He's earning 7.8 free-throw attempts per game in this series, which not only adds to his efficiency but also reduces the risk of the Warriors going on one of their patented pull-up three-point barrages.

"He's so crafty," Durant said. "If you get close to him, you're definitely going to get a foul because he knows how to use his body. He knows how to use his game."

"He should be up there with some of the superstar players in this league," Patrick Beverley said, "because he's doing it day in and day out at 6'1½"."

McCollum and the Blazers Snapped Postseason Losing Streak for "Jennifer"

Stars Invest in Plant-Based Food as Vegetarianism Sweeps NBA

The NBA Got Some Wild Techs This Season

Jarrett Allen Is One of the NBA’s Hottest Rim Protectors

Wade's Jersey Swaps Created Epic Moments This Season

Westbrook Makes History While Honoring Nipsey Hussle

Devin Booker Makes History with Scoring Tear

29 Years Ago, Jordan Dropped Career-High 69 Points

Bosh Is Getting His Jersey Raised to the Rafters in Miami

Steph Returns to Houston for 1st Time Since His Moon Landing Troll

Lou Williams Is Coming for a Repeat of Sixth Man of the Year

Pat Beverley Has the Clippers Stealing the LA Shine

LeBron Keeps Shredding NBA Record Books

Young's Hot Streak Is Heating Up the ROY Race with Luka

LeBron and 2 Chainz Form a Superteam to Release a New Album

Wade's #OneLastDance Dominated February

Warriors Fans Go Wild After Unforgettable Moments with Steph

Eight Years Ago, the Nuggets Traded Melo to the Knicks

Two Years Ago, the Kings Shipped Boogie to the Pelicans

ASG Will Be Competitive Again If the NBA Raises the Stakes

Right Arrow Icon

Without him running so many pick-and-rolls early, the Warriors need to find an adjustment that prevents Williams from heating up early so he doesn't torch them late. Whether it's blitzing him to get the ball out of his hands—even at the risk of other Clippers shooters heating up—or trying something unconventional like a zone, they need a new game plan.

"Lou is one of the best players in the league," Beverley said. "He's a killer, man. I guard the best of them. I see him every day in practice, man. He's a real killer. He goes up with some of the best scorers in the NBA."